Besides New Year festivities, December 31 holds a special significance for the national capital as it was exactly the same day, 89 years ago, that the city was named 'New Delhi'.
Every year-end hordes of youth throng party clubs, plush restaurants and famous markets like the iconic Connaught Place to ring in a new year, but they somewhat unwittingly also celebrate the christening of the 'new city' that was born on December 12, 1911.
Known by various unofficial monikers like 'new city', 'imperial city', 'new imperial city', 'new capital', 'new imperial capital', the city of 'New Delhi' had to wait till December 31, 1926 to be officially called so by King George V, according to archival documents of the period at the National Archives of India (NAI) here.
"It is hereby notified for general information that His Majesty the King-Emperor has signified his approval to the new capital being named "New Delhi". This name will be brought into use forthwith," says the 1926 public notification in this regard by the Home Department archived at the NAI.
The day has never been earmarked by the Delhi government or any other agency for celebration, but given its coincidence with the New Year's eve, people anyway soak in a festive spirit.
Sheila Dikshit government had marked the centenary of the birth of 'New Delhi' in 2011 with grand celebrations, exhibitions and release of books and souvenirs. But, the city's birthplace -- Coronation Park -- remained neglected.
British monarch King George V and his consort Queen Mary had held one of the most regal darbars on December 12, 1911, in the park, where he assumed the crown of India and announced the shifting of the imperial capital from Calcutta to Delhi. However, the new capital had remained unchristened then.
On December 15, the King and the Queen, the first monarchs to attend their coronation darbar in India, laid two plain foundation stones of the new city, bearing just the date "December 15, 1911" engraved on it.
The historic land falling under the DDA was taken up by the Dikshit regime to be redeveloped as Coronation Park, and the work was to be completed by 2011, to coincide with New Delhi's 100th foundation anniversary. But, DDA has missed several deadlines since then.
The grand city of 'New Delhi', designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker, after its completion was officially inaugurated in February 1931 by the then Viceroy Lord Irwin amid much pomp and fanfare.
